PNE pocket win to clip Owls' wings

20 October 2009 23:07
Although Michael Gray (38) cancelled out Mellor's 20th-minute opener, Parkin struck 10 minutes into the second half to ensure Alan Irvine's team picked up the three points to bounce back emphatically from the 4-0 weekend defeat at QPR.[LNB]It maintains their position in the top six and moves them to within two points of pacesetters West Brom and Newcastle.[LNB]Wednesday had enjoyed much the better of the opening period and were unfortunate not to earn at least a point from an entertaining clash.[LNB]The Owls started brightly, with Lewis Buxton's low shot forcing a save from visiting goalkeeper Andy Lonergan in the first minute.[LNB]Jermaine Johnson nodded over from a Gray corner and Leon Clarke forced a wonderful reaction save from Lonergan as the home side continued to dominate the early exchanges.[LNB]At the other end, Preston almost took the lead when Mark Beevers diverted Ross Wallace's cross narrowly over his own crossbar.[LNB]Lonergan made another fine stop to deny Luke Varney in the 11th minute before Mellor put Preston ahead against the run of play in the 20th minute.[LNB]The former Liverpool man met Eddie Nolan's cross with a left-footed strike which deflected off Darren Purse before nestling in the bottom-right corner.[LNB]Wednesday responded well and were incredibly unlucky not to level in the 29th minute as Johnson struck Lonergan's left-hand post with two shots in succession.[LNB]Gray did equalise nine minutes later with a sublime curling free-kick before the hosts hit the post yet again in first-half injury-time through Purse's volley.[LNB]Preston improved after the interval and edged ahead for a second time in the 55th minute as Parkin grabbed his fourth goal of the season - the burly forward side-footing home from close range after a neat cutback from strike partner Mellor.[LNB]Varney saw another effort deflected wide and James O'Connor directed a header off target from Johnson's cross, but Wednesday were unable to exert sustained pressure on their visitors, much to the frustration of the home supporters.[LNB]Preston could have extended their advantage in the closing stages, with Mellor curling a shot narrowly wide of Grant's right-hand post and Darren Carter coming close with a volley from Wallace's corner.[LNB]However, it mattered not as the visitors held on to claim a valuable three points.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk